Symbolism is an important aspect of literature that most writers use to bring out their point. There is however a big difference on how symbolism was used in ancient literature and how it is currently being used. This is simply because of the changing times as well as the influences that come with technology. The essence of literature is to point out issues that are affecting the society with the aim of creating a lasting solution to them. It should also be noted that modernity has come up with a different breed of writers who have taken a different approach to literature. Even though most literature aims at educating the public, the different styles used make some aspects come out stronger. These may include entertainment, humour and just relaxation. The changing trend of literature has invited both compliments and criticism on whether the olden ways of composure has to be maintained by all writers. In this paper, we shall be taking a critical analysis on canon of literature as we focus on the views of Paul West and Carole Maso as we look at ‘hills like white elephants’
Following keenly on the arguments raised by Maso and West on the symbols used to bring out the crisis between the American man and his girlfriend Jig, I realise how rigid writers can be on their thoughts. It is clear that what inspires West in his literature is completely different from inspires Maso. West derives his inspiration from ancient literature writers such as Shakespeare while Maso derives her inspiration from the changing environment. West has a rigid definition of what literature is supposed to be and seems worried that other aspects of media communication such as movies and live talk shows are taking over the role that was meant for novels and other written literature. Even though Maso is also a writer like West, she has no issues with the programs emphasizing that what matters is for the message to be well communicated to the audience.
Maso considers West to be more selfish on his approach simply because of the passion he has for written literature. He dreams of a world where written literature will still be the most trusted media of communication rather than relying on television sets. To bring out his point, he feels that the quality of literature has become so low that it is never trusted readers. Take for example ‘hills like white elephants’, West does not see any content in such literature since it lives the reader more empty than they were before. The conversation revolves around a topic that should be condemned rather than appreciated. The whole setting signifies what really runs into the others mind. According to West, for the author to revolve around a man and a woman talking about aborting and at the same time on a drinking spree, shows how corrupted they are (canon of literature by West). A writer will only write his mind, and when the audience is made to interact which such corrupted mind in their reading, then they opt for other channels of communication.
According to West, there is a sense of immaturity displayed by modern day writers who believe that alcohol, sex and luxury is what makes life. They have no time to think about such issues, which have become a burden to the society and create solution to them. They however celebrate them through their literature by implying to the audience that it is the way of life. The author also displays how irresponsible men have become especially on issues of family and relationships. In the whole novel, the man is busy convincing her girlfriend to have an abortion so that they continue enjoying sex without having to worry about children and other family responsibilities. Worse still, the author lives the audience in suspense on whether the abortion took place or not (canon of literature by West). All he implied was that issues about pregnancy and children should be taken over by women, as men are not ready for such responsibilities.
Maso in her argument sees no issues with Hemingway’s literature. According to Maso, alcoholism and unwanted pregnancies is an issue that is affecting the society and running away from it will not provide any solution. She criticizes West for not getting the whole point of the literature and merely focusing on the faults of the man in not taking responsibility for the unborn child. The point actually was to reveal to the audience some of the dilemmas that people g through in their daily relationship. It should be noted that the book was based on only one scene of the couple as they tried to solve the impending issue. Such a scene should not be used to pass the whole judgment on the author or the characters he uses. For them to reach a point where they had a child together, it simply means that they have had their good moments, which the author did not highlight. This therefore does not imply that the couple spends all their days drinking and talking about an abortion.
We are living in days where a man and a woman are free to make decisions pertaining to life. This is contrary to Shakespeare days where romantic relationships were more of stage managed rather than natural. Maso criticizes West for wanting modern day writers to behave like the Shakespeare when the issues at hand are quite different from what they faced (canon of literature by Maso). The lesson from the whole story is that when two people are in a relationship that they naturally engaged into, they will have personal opinions on such matters as abortion and not rely on what the society thinks. For instance, even though the man insists that the lady should have the abortion, he does not impose it on her, she leaves her with the power to make the ultimate decision to either keep the baby or abort it.
West in his response to Maso agrees to the fact that the reason why Hemingway chose that particular scene for his literature clearly shows what runs through his mind. He does not consider other scenes such as when the couple agrees to make some reasonable decisions about themselves and their lives. In as much as Maso claims to have some other better scenes of the story that were not highlighted, a particular one exited and interested the author. This implies to the audience that such major and paramount decision of keeping a child solely relies on the woman. The author, being a man implies that men can go to any extends to have fun with the women yet when it comes to facing the consequences of the fun, they make selfish decisions and leave the rest to a woman (Hemingway 88). In a society where we are struggling with single parenthood and broken relationships, this should have been the last scene to focus on, and even if it had to be focused on, then a more mature decision should have been passed across in the literature.
Maso counter attacks West by insisting than in modern days, it is not about making a unified decision. The fact is that when the man did not demand for a relationship from the woman, neither was it an arranged sort of relationship. Just as each of them reached a decision to be with each other, then they also have to make a personalized decision about what they feel. They both enjoyed sex with the knowledge of the impending consequences. The man did not run away from the woman on realising she was pregnant; in fact, he accepted responsibility and suggested his opinion on what he feels was to be done (canon of literature by Maso). This according to Maso is not a selfish decision, as West would put it. It is simply a modern world where everybody has a right to make suggestions, decisions and choose how they want their life to be. Maso insists that that the man’s approach was mainly an opinion of which the woman had the power to agree or disagree.
Literature is interesting and what make it lively are the different perspectives that writers take towards a certain topic. Just as we have different writers, so we have different audiences. The other may look at what may be deemed right and acceptable to a certain audience differently. As long as literature has been accepted and appreciated by a particular audience, it remains important and influential. This however does not mean it be corrupted by people who are into making money more than simply passing a particular message. The differences in opinion expressed by West and Maso shows how the audience perceive literature. There will always be differences in opinion yet what matters is how the audience perceives a particular message.
Works cited
Hemingway, Ernest. "Hills like white elephants." The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway (1927): 211-14.
Maso, Carole. Rupture,Verge, and Precipice Precipice,Verge, and Hurt Not. Pdf file
West, Paul. The End of an Elite. Pdf file
